42 provinces in yellow rabies zone
AS rabies has already spread to 13 provinces which have been declared red zone, there are now 42 other provinces which have been declared yellow zone and are being closely being monitor for this disease, INN News reported today (March 8).
Of the 42 yellow zone provinces one of them is Nakhon Ratchasima, or Korat, where officials are going to people’s homes to vaccinate their pet dogs and cats.
Mr Apichart Rumphol, the head of the Office of Public Health and Environment at Nakhon Ratchasima municipality, said his office got a report that the rabies virus has been found in parts of 6 districts with these being Mueang, Ban Lueam, Kham Thale So, Bua Lai, Sida, Kham Sakaesaeng.
In Nakhon Ratchasima municipality area, which is next to Chor Hor subdistrict where this virus has been found, provincial health and environment officials are checking dogs and cats and found that there altogether 11,000 of them and none have rabies.
These officials are making the rounds of 93 communities to vaccinate pet dogs and cats at their owner’s homes.
Metal tags are being put around the necks of dogs and cats that have been vaccinated and their owners given leaflets detailing ways of taking care of their pets.
According to Wikipedia.com, rabies is a viral disease that causes inflammation of the brain in humans and other mammals.
Early symptoms can include fever and tingling at the site of exposure. These symptoms are followed by one or more of the following symptoms: violent movements, uncontrolled excitement, fear of water, an inability to move parts of the body, confusion, and loss of consciousness.
Once symptoms appear, the result is nearly always death.The time period between contracting the disease and the start of symptoms is usually one to three months; however, this time period can vary from less than one week to more than one year.The time is dependent on the distance the virus must travel along nerves to reach the central nervous system.
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Top: A Nakhon Ratchasima official vaccinating a pet dog at the owner’s home. Photo: INN News
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